Survey Data
Reg No
15400911
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic
Original Use
Country house
In Use As
House
Date
1800 - 1840
Coordinates
266752, 264887
Date Recorded
13/10/2004
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached three-bay two-storey over basement country house, built c.1810, having single-bay full-height canted projection and a Tuscan porch added to the centre of the front façade (east), c.1830. Two-storey wing added to the rear (northwest), c.1830. Ground level falls away to north with basement to rear. Hipped natural slate roof with two central ashlar chimneystacks with terracotta chimney pots and having cast-iron rainwater goods. Roughcast rendered walls over projecting plinth. Square-headed window openings with cut stone sills and six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows to ground floor openings and six-over-three pane over to first floor openings. Round-headed doorcase to canted projection having fluted ashlar limestone pilasters (on square-plan) with console brackets over supporting moulded lintel over. Glass fanlight over doorcase now largely obscured behind later ashlar limestone Tuscan porch. Substantial complex of outbuildings to the rear (northwest). Set back from road in extensive mature grounds to the south of Clonmellon. Main entrance gates (15400912) to the east.
Appraisal
An appealing middle-sized country house, of balanced Georgian proportions, which retains its early form, character and fabric. This elegant structure appears to have been built in at least two phases. It was probably originally constructed at the start of the nineteenth century with the very fine Tuscan porch and the large two-storey extension/wing to the rear (northwest) added c.1830. The full-height canted projection is a noteworthy feature that helps to this distinguish this building from many of its contemporaries and this too may be a later addition. This fine house was the home of a Mr W. Dwyer in 1837 (Lewis) and was reputedly built using stone salvaged from the ruins of Devotstown Castle (WM009-041---), which lies a short distance to the west. A castle/fortified house and bawn (WM009-042---) is indicated at Heathstown on the Down Survey map of the area (1654-6) . Heathstown House forms the centerpiece of an interesting group of associated structures along with the gates (15400912) to the east and the extensive collection of outbuildings to the rear (not investigated).